Castelli Potenza Jersey Men's

Over the past several years, Castelli hasn't been shy about making extraordinary claims for its foul weather kit. That's because the brand behind the iconic red scorpion logo has been making foul weather kit extraordinary enough to live up to those claims. With the Potenza Men's Jersey, Castelli has once again reset our expectations by building a jerseyjacket thing that combines wind resistance, thermal insulation, high breathability, and a water resistant finish. Those are big claims, we know, but Castelli tested them by giving the Potenza to a few professionals to try, and the brand reports that they are clamoring for race versions. There isn't currently one in the works, though, which means that like with disc brakes and sub 15lb bikes we consumers get access to stuff before the pros themselves. The Potenza consists entirely of a single fabric, Polartec's Power Stretch fleece. Given Castelli's penchant for targeted constructions comprising multiple fabrics at strategic locations throughout the jersey, this relatively short ingredients list gave us pause. We found ourselves reflexively scanning the spec sheet for the inevitable stretch inserts that are often credited with compensating for the lack of breathability and inconsistent stretch and return properties of most foul weather fabrics. We never found them because they aren't needed. Power Stretch breathes, wicks, and stretches more like a base layer than an outer layer, but its densely woven knit and hard face finish give it the durability and wind resistance of a light jacket. When hit with a DWR treatment, the result is a top that blurs the gap between thermal jerseys and winter jackets by combining the breathable stretch of the former with the warmth and light elemental protection of the latter. It isn't water or windproof, but that hard face finish does cut the winter chill and light precipitation and road spray beads up to be shaken off without penetrating. Though Castelli doesn't call it out i...